Toyota beefs up its RAV4 with new TRD Off-Road package

Whether you actually go off-road, or just want to know you could, Toyota wants to market you a truck to meet that need, and to that end is beefing up its popular RAV4 sport-utility for the first time in the model’s history.

The RAV4, an all-new redesign for 2019, was presented at the recent Chicago Auto Show in TRD Off-Road trim. This new package, for 2020, will go on sale this fall, including in Canada.

The TRD treatment, if you didn’t know, is usually found on vehicles like the Tacoma pickup, but there’s history here. Back in 2015, Toyota unveiled a RAV4 rally car, built and driven by veteran racer Ryan Millen.

Despite it being front-wheel drive and running the stock 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, Millen took the American Rally Association championship in his class in 2017.

The 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road comes with standard dynamic torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, which can transfer up to 50 per cent of torque to the rear wheels, and further distribute it to the left or right rear wheels as needed for traction. It uses the model’s standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission.

For those who are buying it to actually get off the pavement, the new trim can tow up to 3,500 lbs (1,587 kg) of gear such as dirt bikes or personal watercraft, while mountain bikes can sit up top on the included roof rails.

As with all RAV4 models, this one will include such safety features as adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist and automatic high-beam headlights. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.